Wikileaks On Nana Akufo-Addo

The National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the run-up to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) December 2007 congress, feared the election of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as NPP flagbearer for the 2008 elections posed a serious threat to its dream of wresting power from the NPP, latest Wikileaks reports have revealed.

The United States Embassy cable created on December 27, five days after Nana Addo had emerged the 2008 presidential candidate of the NPP, was leaked on the 30th of August, 2011 by Wikileaks.

The confession by the NDC was made to Sue K. Brown, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, prior to the December 22, 2007 NPP election.

Paragraph 8 of the Wikileaks cable reads, “NDC activists had previously indicated to us that they viewed Akufo-Addo as a formidable opponent, and suggested that they preferred (Alan) Kyerematen.”

The NDC was also apprehensive of the personal credibility Nana Akufo-Addo would have among voters because he was seen as his own man as opposed to their Presidential Candidate, Prof. J.E.A Mills, who was viewed in political circles as one “who would call on former President JJ Rawlings 24/7”.

The NDC, in paragraph 8 of the cable, was also wary of Nana Addo’s personal credibility among voters.”

The US embassy cable in paragraph 1 clearly stated that Nana Addo was the best candidate for the NPP as “Akufo Addo’s victory would put the NPP in a strong position to confront the National Democratic Congress.”

This goes to reaffirm the NDC’s apparent fear of the NPP flagbearer and a possible reason it has consistently tried to malign him with accusations of complicity in drug trafficking and use.

A similar attempt to choose a flagbearer for the NPP, by the NDC, was seen in the run-up to the August 2010 congress of the NPP, which Nana Addo won.

Prior to the congress, activists of the NDC, on several media platforms, were actively heard saying that the NPP should elect anyone but Nana Addo since he was not a formidable candidate.

Indeed, Nana Akufo-Addo was described as brisk, business-like, focussed as well as a serious diplomat during his tenure as foreign Minister of Ghana, by none other than the former US Ambassador to Ghana, Mary C. Yates, another Wikileaks cable of March 2004, revealed.

The diplomatic skills exhibited by Nana Addo during the Ivorian crisis of 2004, when he was Foreign Minister, were also applauded by Ambassador Yates.

“Akufo-Addo was his usual brisk and business-like self,” she added.

These qualities of Nana Addo, known by all, including activists of the NDC, perhaps have informed the party’s decision to avoid and disparage him at all costs.

i wonder of Ghana's Foreign Service is this detailed in their observation of political leaders in the countries they are based?

it just shows how loose lips sinks ships, you never know who is listening and you never know who is asking in order for someone else to observe

all this info is Fascinating....can you post the cables that the Canadian high commissioner said about Ghana's leaders....he said GOG politicians are only interested in Accra based movers and shakers or upper echelon citizens and are out of tune with 95% of Ghana. More over that they are blind or have false illusion of Ghana's dire straits/circumstances.

all go to the same place ;all come from dust and to the dust all return. who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?

i wonder of Ghana's Foreign Service is this detailed in their observation of political leaders in the countries they are based?

it just shows how loose lips sinks ships, you never know who is listening and you never know who is asking in order for someone else to observe

all this info is Fascinating....can you post the cables that the Canadian high commissioner said about Ghana's leaders....he said GOG politicians are only interested in Accra based movers and shakers or upper echelon citizens and are out of tune with 95% of Ghana. More over that they are blind or have false illusion of Ghana's dire straits/circumstances.